Brush Fire On 99E Between Oregon City & Canby Forces Evacuations

CANBY, Ore. — A brush fire broke out as people were headed home from work on Wednesday afternoon, sending smoke billowing up steep hillsides.

Families were told to round up their horses and livestock and head to the Clackamas County Fairgrounds where they were met by the Red Cross.  They were able to return home later in the evening.  Highway 99E was closed in Canby and Oregon City.

Clackamas, Molalla and Canby Fire departments all responded.  A chopper dumped water from above.  Hand crews worked the steep rocky terrain.  Crews remained on scene overnight watching for hot spots and additional spread.  Geologists with ODOT scaled the hillsides once the fire was out to make sure it hadn’t loosened rocks that could fall onto the roadway or make the hillside slide or collapse.

Clackamas County held a community meeting online last night.  This was the second significant brush fire in the county since April.